Get used to it people, Qantas are not the only "national carrier" struggling because of changing flight demographics and economics. Most of the others (eg Air NZ) are government owned and are "subsidised". This is Qantas' main argument/plea/beg angle ATM.
Let's face it... flying is no longer "glamorous" or "exciting". Pax planes are just flying buses carrying people from Point A to Point B. Every airline is looking for ways to either make it cheaper to fly (more seats, less service), or more expensive to fly (fancy fold downs, bigger margins).
These days the vast majority of people want to fly somewhere for the cheapest possible price and spend the difference at the destination, airlines don't help by trying to make money from a different revenue stream (eg charging for limited checked baggage), but then shoot themselves in the foot by having the bags in the cabin and not the hold because no-one want to pay excess baggage.
More ferals fly because it's cheaper, therefore where's your fellow traveller courtesy? They never had any to begin with
When was the last time you saw anyone at check-in or boarding be asked to put their carry-on in the little metal cage to check dimensions? Yep... never. The staff can't/won't be arsed to do it because they're not on $120k a year anymore - they're mostly sub-contracted agents with no union delegate buying them beers in the arvo.
So on the topic of hating things about flying: I can't stand people bringing all their poop on board instead of checking it in, and I'll never understand the whole stand-up-once-the-plane-stops-and-wait-for-10-minutes thing.
